This is the reason independents are growing so quickly. At least this is my personal experience as an independent. I hate the Michael Moores, Rush Limbaughs, Ann Coulters, Sean Hannitys and Keith Olbermanns(although I like him as a sports man). I think these people gain traction because it's the most extreme, dogmatic views that gain ratings/readership. So more than anything it's probably the media that's driving the chasm. Hopefully this is leading to a paradigm shift where the political landscape is dominated by people who are willing to think outside the [party] box.
So long as we have one person one vote, we will have two parties(Single Transferable Vote would go a long way to allowing other parties a voice at the table). So long as we have two parties, will will have extremes trying very vigorously to differentiate themselves from their competition. So long as we have extremes differentiations, we will have talking heads promoting their viewpoint because staying on message pulls people from the middle and puts you in power, which is, at the end of the day, the ultimate goal. One other side effect from the party extremes are the starry eyed zealots who believe everything that is being sold to them because either a) they are not all that sharp or b) they are in a position to benefit if that party comes to power. In my opinion, it is the people in the middle who just don't get it. You are either part of the game, or you are being gamed, and there isn't much in between. You don't even get a chance to go pitch your centrist agenda to the people unless you win your Primary, and that means you need to tow the party line in a big way. Any real centrist who wanted to get his agenda through would wear the guise of the party loyal, and then betray his party once in office. That's how Bill Clinton got elected, and what he did when balanced the budget by both cutting military and entitlement (welfare) expenses.
Last time I check Ron Paul was a republican, I guess he has no problem being part of the two party system that is so corrupt when it comes to being reelected.
Sometimes you have to play by the rules to get recognized.. thanks to people like yourself. Good job getting banned.
The two party system is a creation of the two parties in power. A third party candidate has an uphill battle to get elected or even on the ballot. The 3rd party candidate Ross Perot got Clinton elected in 1992. Most likely Bush won in 2000 because of Nader.
Nevertheless, the third party did not win. One person one vote makes for only two parties because people never like to waste their vote. Perot was an anomaly because his wealth enabled him to compete financially without the backing of a major party. This is true for the Presidential races as well as the congressional races.